The last four years has been the most successful run in franchise history. Since the blockbuster trade in December of 2013 that sent Rudy Gay to Sacramento - that was initially intended to signal a rebuild - the duo of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan has led the Raptors to four straight playoff appearances, set the franchise record for regular season wins, and fell just two games short of making the 2016 NBA Finals. As they enter the 2017-2018 season with the same core intact, the age-old question remains: Can this team beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the playoffs? Let’s take a look.
This was amongst the most entertaining and shocking NBA off-seasons in recent memory (maybe ever?). The sheer volume of all-star caliber players who changed teams this summer was truly staggering. If just one of the players below were traded or signed with a new team, it would be a story. The fact that all of this happened within the span of a few months is almost incomprehensible.
Now, back to the Toronto Raptors. This was a franchise defining off-season as Masai Ujiri charts his course for the next few years. After locking up DeMar DeRozan to a max contract in 2016, Masai decided to commit to this core and extend their championship window by signing Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka to a pair of three year contracts. This trio is now signed through 2020-2021, giving Masai three years to find the right supporting cast. As a casualty of Lowry and Ibaka’s new deals, the Raptors were forced to shed the contracts of several quality depth pieces including Patrick Patterson, Cory Joseph, P.J. Tucker, and DeMarre Carroll. The only notable addition was acquiring swingman C.J. Miles in a sign-and-trade deal with Indiana in exchange for fan favourite Cory Joseph. Miles will add much needed depth at small forward as well as shooting prowess from behind the arc. The loss of Joseph and Tucker means that Norman Powell and Delon Wright will be relied upon for significant minutes.
The Raptors roster is an interesting mix of a veteran core complimented by young role players. The following is a look at their strengths and weaknesses.
Heading into the season, here are a few Raptors story lines to follow:
This is going to be a fascinating season for the Toronto Raptors. In a weak Eastern Conference, the Raptors core is strong enough to guide them to a top four finish in the regular season and their 5th consecutive playoff appearance. What will determine how far they go will be driven by the play of their young supporting cast. To make the Finals, you have to go through LeBron James. Can this team as currently constructed beat the Cavaliers? Unfortunately, it’s difficult to make a strong case for any team to dethrone The King. LeBron is a generational player and less than a handful of people on the planet can limit him offensively. That being said, this Raptors team is poised to make the playoffs and they have the assets to make a deal at the deadline. If they can improve their shooting and add to their depth, coupled with a little good fortune, this could be their year.
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